EPA Probes for Conflicts of Interest Should Start In Their Own Building

(Tallahassee, FL – May 17, 2012) Prompted by a petition from two environmental interest groups, the EPA is searching for conflicts of interest among Florida's environmental officials.

"If EPA is on the hunt for conflicts of interest they can start in their own building," said Ryan Houck, executive director of Free Market Florida. "Many of EPA's top brass have extensive ties to environmental litigation groups with a clear financial interest in the outcome of major permitting battles. Somehow, I doubt the Florida Clean Water Network or PEER will be calling for their firing."

Many of EPA's top regulators are former staffers for major environmental litigants, which frequently bring suit against the agency over permitting issues. These environmental interest groups have a direct financial stake in the outcome of litigation with the EPA, which includes their ability to request attorney's fees through the Equal Access to Justice Act. Recently, EPA has drawn fire for its "sue-and-settle" formula—a process by which environmental groups bring suit against the EPA in order to trigger a rulemaking process that results in new regulations.

"The EPA has ceased to be an impartial referee on permitting matters," said Houck. "They've strapped on pads and are on the field playing for environmental extremists. It's exactly what you'd expect from a system wherein environmental interest groups serve as de facto farm teams for EPA. It's just laughable that environmental litigants are now pointing the finger at others."

A brief list of senior EPA officials who have formerly worked at environmental interest groups that often sue the EPA:

Free Market Florida is a free market watchdog group affiliated with the newly launched Free Market America. The organization emerged from a coalition of business and civic leaders which, in 2010, led the successful "Vote No on 4" campaign, garnering 67 percent of the vote.

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